The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons 1 The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons 2 The HistoryThe History of of Fitness:Fitness: Eras, Trends Eras & Icon& sTrends Contents PAGE 4 | 1900-1920s - “The Foundation of Fitness” Health Culture | Group Exercise | Weightlifting | Sanitariums PAGE 12 | 1930-1940 - “Tough People during Tough Times” “He-Man” Courses | The Great Depression | World War - III PAGE 15 | 1950s-1960s - “Let the Good-Times Roll” Presidential Fitness | Health Spa | TV Fitness | Isometrics | Multi-Gyms PAGE 25 | The 1970s – “Sock It To Me Crazes!” The Tennis Craze | The Racquetball Craze | The Jogging Craze | Fitness Trails PAGE 29 | The 1980s - “The Totally Awesome Decade” The Fitness Boom | Fitness & Fashion | Dance Aerobics | Video Explosion PAGE 37 | The 1990s - “The Gnarly 90s!” Cable TV | Grunge | Infomercials | Personal Training PAGE 40 | The 2000s - “The New Millennium” Pseudo-Reality TV | New Group Exercise | High-Tech Training PAGE 44 | “The History of Fitness” Study Guide for the NFHOF Exam PAGE 46 | The National Fitness Hall of Fame’s “15 FITNESS FIRSTS” About the Author: John Figarelli started his fitness career in 1981 teaching Slimnastics and Men's Fitness classes at local park districts. From 1987 to 1990, John was selected as the Mainz Community Powerlifting Coach while serving in the US Army in Mainz, Germany. After being honorably discharged from the army in 1990, John went on to complete a master's degree in Exercise Science at the University of Illinois in Chicago. While at UIC, he worked in the Human Performance Lab testing both Professional and student athletes and lay persons alike. In 1991, John earned his first official certification as a Health-Fitness Instructor with the ACSM. During the mid-90's John owned and operated Fig's Fitness Studio and created the NU-SHAPE Weight-Loss & Fitness Program. In 2004, he established The National Fitness Hall of Fame (NFHOF) and now serves as Director. John is the author of 5 best-selling books and has helped thousands of individuals lose weight, get back into shape and increase their zest for life! John lives in Minooka, Illinois with his wonderful wife and two terrific kids. (Born 6/26/1962) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published by the National Fitness Hall of Fame | Copyright © 2018 | Printed in the USA | www.nationalfitnesshalloffame.com 3 The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons The ERA of the 1900s-1920s “The Foundation of Fitness” Early 20th Century life was much different then today. Work was hard and laborious and typically extended from sunrise to sunset. There was little time for recreational activities and most of the modern luxuries that we take for granted today, did not exist. For many, life during this time was limited to completing chores and surviving the elements. One such element that many people faced during this era was illness due to infectious diseases. Mortality rates from measles, scarlet fever, typhoid, whooping cough, diphtheria and other diseases were very high during this time and most medicines used to prevent and cure these diseases were not yet available. The average life expectancy in the United States in 1900 was 48 years and if Fitness was discussed, it was in reference to creating good health. President Theodore Roosevelt who held the office from 1901-1909 was born in New York City in 1858 into a wealthy family. He struggled with poor health in his youth but triumphed over his illness with regular exercise and became an advocate of the strenuous life. He encouraged US citizens to be physically active throughout their lives. Did You Know? – “Physical Culture” was the term used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe “Fitness.” worldwide. 4 The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons America was very rural during this era, but as people moved from the farm to the city, during the early 1900s, the benefits which could be derived from living a Physical Culture Lifestyle started to be understood by the public. This lifestyle however was not easy to adopt, as according to the US Department of the Interior, the estimated average work week for factory workers was 60 hours. Many women also put in sixty or more hours of housework each week making the benefits of exercise difficult to appreciate. Following World War I (1914-1918) many Americans enjoyed greater leisure time and greater wealth. By the 1920s, the urban middle class enjoyed a host of new household conveniences, including hot and cold running water, gas stoves, automatic washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners. More and more people got the chance to enjoy life outside of work as recreational and leisure time activities started to become part of the American lifestyle. Many Americans also took up participatory sports such as tennis, golf, and water sports and athletes started to garner celebrity status as sports heroes such as Babe Ruth, "Red" Grange, Jack Dempsey and Bill Tilden became larger than life characters. Prohibition also marked this era (1920-1933) as the consumption and even possession of alcohol was made illegal. Prohibition’s purpose was to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden and improve health and hygiene in America. It was proven not to have worked well. Due to these laws, the era brought forth some of the best known gangsters opening illegal bars that would provide alcoholic drinks for the people that frequented these establishments. Did You Know? - The Great Pandemic from 1918- 1919 was a global influenza epidemic which is believed to have caused the death of over 40 million people worldwide. Although too late to help with the Great Pandemic, Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin in 1928 which changed the world of modern medicines by introducing the age of antibiotics. 5 The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons Toward the end of the decade in October 1929, the stock market crashed, and America’s invested wealth suddenly lost $26 billion in value. Prosperity had ended quickly and America began the period called, “The Great Depression.” One final thing to keep mind when studying this era in history is that Fitness or Physical Culture was reserved mainly for urban dwellers in major East Coast cities. Rural America, which comprised was most of the country, did not really appreciate or recognize fitness during this time in history. As an example of America’s ruralness, the city population of Dallas, Texas in 1900 was around 42,000 today it is home to over 1.3 million Texans! And if you dared traveled to Phoenix, Arizona in 1900 (by horse & buggy of course) you would be welcomed by 5,000 Phoenicians. If you jetted into AZ today that number would be would be over 1.5 million! The TRENDS of the 1900s-1920s Grouphe Exercise TRENDS of the 1900s-1920s The YMCAs, YWCA and university gymnasiums all boasted group exercise as the main form of exercise. Most of the movements were calisthenic in nature featuring gymnastic-type exercises and promoting grace of movement. One popular exercise class during this era included the use of Indian Clubs. Participants would perform a series of gracefully flowing moves with an Indian Club in each hand. Indian Club training provided an aesthetically pleasing way to build grace, flexibility and overall strength. Did You Know? - Calisthenics are exercises consisting of a variety of gross motor movements—running, standing, grasping, pushing, etc. — often performed rhythmically and with minimal equipment, so essentially, bodyweight exercises. For years the military has incorporated various calisthenics type exercises in their training. (See pictures on next page) 6 The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons Weightlifting is Formally Established Alan Calvert (1875-1944) established the Milo Barbell company in 1902. Calvert is responsible for the modernization of American weightlifting. He helped weightlifting evolve as a sport and educate the public as to what a “Barbell” was and how it’s use could produce health benefits and increase strength. Calvert was inspired by Eugen Sandow - (1867-1925) was a legendary Strongman and Circus Performer. His fame was also instrumental in popularizing weightlifting. He wrote several books on bodybuilding, nutrition and encouraged a "healthy" lifestyle as being as important as having a sound mind. 7 The History of Fitness: Eras, Trends & Icons Sanitariums & Wellness Retreats Sanitariums of the late 1880s and early 1900s were created primarily for treating individuals suffering from physical problems related to disease and not that of mental illness. Edward Livingston Trudeau (1848-1915), an American physician, founded the first tuberculosis sanitarium in America in 1885. He started what became known as the "sanitarium movement" in the United States. Patients who came to his sanitarium were offered lots of fresh air, moderate exercise and healthful diets. The Battle Creek Sanitarium first opened as the Western Health Reform Institute in 1866 and was the most famous health institution of the time. John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943), a noted physician and surgeon became the medical director in 1876, changing the name in 1877. At the sanitarium, Kellogg encouraged a low fat, low protein diet with an emphasis on whole grains and fiber-rich foods. He also recommended a daily intake of fresh air, exercise and educated patients as to the importance of hygiene. “F ITNESS FIRSTS” of the 1900s-1920s Early Fitness Crusaders - Several people were instrumental in promoting the Physical Culture Life during this era and although it is not possible to recognize all of these great individuals in this book, we do appreciate the sacrifice and effort made by all.